The karat stamped on a piece of gold jewelry tells you how much pure gold it contains. Pure gold is 24 karat; lower karats are alloys of gold with metals such as copper, silver or zinc. The higher the karat, the more gold — but the softer the metal.
Karat and fineness
- 24 karat — 1000 fineness (pure gold). Very soft; mostly used for bars and investment gold.
- 22 karat — 916 fineness (about 91.6% gold). Common in bangles and traditional jewelry.
- 18 karat — 750 fineness (75% gold). Bright yet durable; a popular choice for diamond and gemstone pieces.
- 14 karat — 585 fineness (58.5% gold). The most durable for everyday wear; common in wedding bands, necklaces and earrings.
Which karat should you choose?
For a ring or wedding band you will wear every day, 14 or 18 karat resists scratches and deformation better. If you prefer a richer yellow color and higher gold content, a 22 karat bangle is a classic choice. For investment, buyers usually look at 24 karat gram gold or gold coins rather than jewelry.
How karat affects color and price
The alloy metals set the color: more copper gives a rose tone, more silver a paler yellow, and nickel or palladium produces white gold. The price is largely weight × the gram price of that karat, which is why a 22 karat piece costs more than a 14 karat piece of the same weight.
The hallmark on the piece shows numbers such as 585, 750 or 916 — these are fineness values. At Ali Atçeken Jewelry the weight and karat of every piece are stated clearly, and you can follow current prices on our price list page.